Peyton Manning hands off the ball to running back Montee Ball during practice at Dove Valley.(Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

Perhaps the highlight of the Broncos’ first training camp practice was when No. 18 ran on to the field. Peyton Manning is once again the Broncos’ quarterback. He drew loud applause from the fans squeezed into the burmed seating area along one of the two grass practice fields.

Manning is one of the most focused, prepared athletes in sports. And yet two front-office executives were slapped with DUIs in recent weeks while star pass rusher Von Miller is confronting a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy. What did Manning think about so many careless off-field acts that have hit the organization in recent weeks?

“You’d like to not have those problems,’’ Manning said. “I think most players would tell you that but that’s football and we know how to handle it. I think the organization has addressed it. (Team president) Joe Ellis has addressed it, (owner) Pat Bowlen has addressed it, (football operations boss) John Elway has addressed it. Coach Fox has addressed it and that is why you are a family. You stick together.
“You can’t always be rosy, can’t always be perfect. We have Von’s back. We have everybody in our organization’s back. That’s when you find out a lot about people is who sticks with you when the times are tough. You find out who the rats are; who is going to jump ship. It’s easy when you are rolling along, an 11-game winning streak, everything is good. You have some adversity come your way, how do you respond? I think the organization has responded.’’

Don’t worry Peyton we penciled in Elway for a Rat when he dumped Tebow for your old scraggly asss. Now get out there and don’t yank nothing.

Jonny

Who is “we”? Idiots who are still upset that we traded for one of the greatest QB’s of all time? Because your comment definitely doesn’t represent the overwhelming majority of Broncos Country.

nilrem

The “cheese” is obviously in his head.

Dynamicdave

That was lame. Go root for your “toy-boy” with the Pastry-ets. You don’t fit in as a Broncos fan.

Lifesbeengood

Typical classy, intelligent Tebow fan reply. I’ll never understand why such a great guy has such classless fans.

Lifesbeengood

Peyton’s got it right. He knows how to pull his teammates together.

On the field, the off season and off-the-field stuff doesn’t matter anymore. Just the team, and the game.

Quandry in Denver

I’m just really scratching my head here. Am I the only guy in Denver that feels the Broncos have completely ran off the rails? I look for sports updates, and after reading the Bronco news I’m convinced the whole damn organization needs bussed down to Pueblo and admitted to the funny farm. What a screwy bunch of gozillionaires, if this is the right stuff no thanks…

Alaska Bronco Fan

“Completely run off the rails” would be if the team was 2-6 after eight games with Manning injured and out for the year. It’s the first day of training camp, fer cryin’ out loud! Relax and start thinking more positively about the Bronco’s considerable potential this season. Go Broncos!

Lifesbeengood

Two execs had alcohol incidents. There are 16 people on the Broncos executive staff. According to the NIH, 1 person in 6 has an alcohol problem in this country, and plenty of them end up getting DUI’s. But with these men, it makes national news. One player on a roster of 53 failed a drug test. That is hardly running off the rails.

broncoswede

Uh…Von did NOT fail a drug test this time. That much as been made clear. His violation is in non-compliance with the substance abuse program after rookie season infraction(s?).
This means he missed a counseling session or drug test….OR in worst case, he tampered with his drug test by leaving a watered down sample or substituted his urine with something intended to fool the drug test.
Given his history with tardiness, I will go with him missing (or being late to) scheduled sessions or tests.

John Marlin

Hey Peyton, Don’t be a rat come January ….. AGAIN

karen labanca

Good thoughts by Peyton… Why the jealousy???? I dont understand that. More than ever the team needs to stick together they need Von Miller to be right in the head he is an intricate part of their defense. Tim Tebow plays for NE remember?? No longer a BRONCO has NOT been for over a year. Hello. Time for you to root for NE if you feel that way.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.